Solar Industry News

What’s the Best Orientation and Angle to Install My Solar Panels?

September 20, 2022

If you’re thinking about installing solar panels on your roof, you might be surprised at how many variables can affect…

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Honored with SunPower 2017 “Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year” Award

March 25, 2018

  Solar Technologies, a Santa Cruz based solar installer, has received the SunPower “Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year” award…

Solar Industry News

Commercial Solar ROI - Installation of commercial solar system

Evaluating Commercial Solar ROI, Payback, IRR, and NPV

By Solar Technologies | October 23, 2022

The amount your business can save over the 25 to 30-year lifetime of a commercial solar system depends on many factors, including how you finance it, federal and local incentives and your pre-solar utility rate. Business owners in states like California benefit since the state ranks within the top for available sunshine. How to Determine…

Solar-Panel-Output

How Long Do Solar Panels Last?

By Solar Technologies | October 21, 2022

The industry standard for the productive lifetime of a solar panel is 25-30 years. While panels will continue to produce energy for years after the 25-30 year mark, its output will decrease slightly year over year. Most solar panels will offset your electricity use for decades. It’s important to research the solar products you choose…

How to Prepare Your Solar System for Winter Weather

By Solar Technologies | October 19, 2022

Whether you live in a warmer climate where cold weather is touch and go, or you are used to freezing temperatures all season long, you may wonder what you need to do to prep your solar system for the winter. The good news is that a SunPower solar system is low maintenance. However, there are…

Home Battery Complete Review: Tesla Powerwall

By Solar Technologies | October 17, 2022

With its legacy of reimagining existing products (along with the recently announced battery storage incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act), the Tesla Powerwall is in high demand with homeowners throughout California. Powerwall is an integrated battery system that stores the energy generated from your solar panels to power your home during evenings, cloudy days and…

Understanding Your PG&E Bill, Fees & Rate Schedule

By Solar Technologies | October 15, 2022

If you live in California, there’s a good chance that you’re a customer of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). PG&E is a San Francisco-based company that provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 16 million people in the northern and central regions of California, making it one of the United States’ largest utilities. Here are…

How to Get More Value Out of Your Solar System

By Solar Technologies | October 13, 2022

While generating power from the sun is without cost, the technology behind this process is not. The reality is solar panels are an investment – much like a home – that has an upfront cost but pays off in the long term. The installation of your solar system can be compared to a small construction…

Home With Solar

How Much Energy Do Solar Panels Produce?

By Solar Technologies | October 11, 2022

In today’s market, the vast majority of solar panels produce between 250 and 400 watts of clean energy. On your solar installation quote, you might see a number like 245W, 300W or 345W next to the name of each panel. They all refer to a solar panel’s capacity, power output and wattage. How to Calculate…

How Long Will A Backup Battery Power My Home During An Outage?

By Solar Technologies | October 9, 2022

As power outages, heat waves and wildfires continue to impact California every year, it’s important to know how long a backup battery will power your essential appliances. Depending on the severity of the situation, homeowners can be without power for hours or even days. A high-quality home battery can provide enough power to keep your…

Macy's Solar Array

Commercial Solar Panels: Benefits, Costs and Incentives

By Solar Technologies | October 7, 2022

Commercial solar panel systems can be installed on rooftops, carports and as ground-mounted systems to provide many benefits for property owners. Many corporations with massive manufacturing facilities have expansive, flat roof space that’s perfect for generating clean, affordable solar energy. Let’s take a look at the benefits of installing commercial solar panels for businesses and…

A Technical Review Of The SunPower SunVault Storage Solution

By Solar Technologies | October 5, 2022

The SunPower SunVault battery storage solution allows you to gain more control over your home energy usage and protect against power outages, blackouts and more. By storing excess solar power during the day for use at night or during peak hours, the home battery can also act as a backup power source in case of…